Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes
November 8, 2001

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:00. BY CHAIRMAN STEINER

Members Present: Joe Bridgman

Ronald Griffith

Gene Levengood

Bill Steiner

Jim Zdanek

Others Present: Seven attendees in the audience

Diane Leclair, Recording Secretary

ITEM NO. 1 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Regular Meeting – October 4, 2001

Mr. Bridgman moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 4, 2001 as submitted. Supported by Mr. Griffith. Ayes all.

ITEM NO. 2 – NEW BUSINESS

Application No. 1286 - 1287– Allied Signs, Inc.

33650 Giftos

Clinton Twp., MI 48035

Location – Kmart Department Store

40885 Ann Arbor Rd

Plymouth, MI 48170

Tax I.D. #78-065-99-0012-000

RE: Zoning Ordinance No. 83

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 83 BY ADDING ARTICLE XXXIV,

ARC - ANN ARBOR ROAD CORRIDOR DISTRICT.

THE TOWNSHIP OF PLYMOUTH ORDAINS that the Zoning Ordinance No. 83 of The Charter Township of Plymouth, is hereby amended by adding Article XXXIV, ARC Ann Arbor Road Corridor District.

SEC. 34.10 SIGNS:

Purpose

The purpose of these sign regulations is to provide for a unified approach to managing the size, placement, number and appearance of signs within the Ann Arbor Road Corridor District. Within the framework of the long term cooperative effort between the City and Charter Township of Plymouth, this Section is intended to promote a balance between business advertising needs, the aesthetic recommendations of the Ann Arbor Road Plan and design guidelines, and the safety needs of the passing motorist.

Definitions

Item of Information: any word, abbreviation or symbol used as part of a sign.

General Standards

The following general standards shall apply to signs in the ARC, Ann Arbor Road Corridor District:

Measurement of Sign Area:

The entire area within a rectangle or square enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem, or any figure of similar character, together with any frame, tower, or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign, shall be included in the measurement. Such signs shall be deemed to be a single sign whenever the proximity, design, content or continuity reasonably suggests a single unit, notwithstanding any physical separation between parts.

Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two such faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than two feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face, if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the larger face, if the two faces are of unequal area.

Items of Information:

Where a sign has two or more faces, the items of information of all faces shall be included in determining the total items of information, except that where two such faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than two feet from one another the items of information of the sign shall be taken as the items of one face, if the two faces contain the same items of information, or the greater number of items if the two faces are not equal.

A maximum of eight (8) items of information for a single street frontage and a maximum of five (5) additional items of information for each additional street frontage may be permitted for uses in the Ann Arbor Road Corridor District. For wholesale, warehousing or light industrial uses which may be permitted under Section 34.2.3, paragraph x. herein, a maximum of five (5) items of information may be permitted per street frontage.

Except as otherwise provided, such items of information maximums shall be the total permitted per premises and may be in any combination of permitted signs.

The existing corner site is allowed a maximum of thirteen (13) items of information, per sec. 34.10.3.b.2. After a site survey of the existing signage there are thirty (30) items of information.

Randy Schmitt of Allied Signs spoke regarding the signs at Kmart. It was unclear as to how to assist with these variances, as it was apparent that there had already been a number of variances requested on this property (see above). He was told to consult with Shirley Barney of the Planning Department as well as Dennis Robare, plan reviewer regarding both of these applications.

The applicant is requesting two variances:

Application #1286 –

The applicant is requesting to add to the face panel of the existing monument sign, by so doing, it shall add one (1) "1 Hour Photo" and one (1) "Pharmacy" to the sign; an addition of four (4) items of information to the site. Requesting a variance of four (4) items of information for the site.

Mr. Bridgman moved to table Application #1286 for up to 60 days. Supported by Mr. Griffith. Ayes all.

Application #1287–

The applicant is requesting to add one (1) "1 Hour Photo" wall sign to the north elevation of the building; an addition of three (3) items of information to the site. Requesting a variance of three (3) items of information for the site.

Mr. Griffith moved to table Application #1287 for up to 60 days. Supported by Mr. Bridgman. Ayes all.

**NOTE: Application No. 1288 and Application No. 1289 were eliminated at the request of the applicant (Allied Signs)**

Application No. 1290 – Accent Remodeling, Inc.

8424 N. Lilley Rd.

Canton, MI 48187

Location – John & Linda Harris

46334 Wesford Ct.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Tax I.D. #78-036-04-0129-000

RE: Zoning Ordinance No. 83, Article XVI R-1-E, R-1-H, R-1-S and R-1 One Family Residential Districts. Schedule of Regulations 16.1, z, minimum rear yard setback – 50 feet.

(z) The rear yard in an R-1-E, R-1-H, R-1-S and R-1, Single Family Resident District may be reduced after approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals finding that the following specific requirements have been made.

1. The single-family structure may not extend more than 10 feet into the required 50-foot rear yard.

2. The rear yard of the residence must back to the rear yard of the adjoining residence and not a side yard.

3. The width of the single family structure extending into the required 50-foot rear yard shall not exceed forty percent of the width of the portion of the single family structure, which must comply with the 50-foot setback.

4. The proposed penetration into the rear yard setback is the only practical location for the proposed addition.

5. The completed structure will be consistent and compatible with the other houses in the immediate area in overall size, construction, quality, and finish and aesthetic appearance.

6. The proposed extension into the rear yard shall not have a substantial negative impact on expected vistas for adjoining properties.

7. The rear yard setback otherwise required is not less than 50-foot, due to a consent judgment or other exceptions.

8. The proposed structure shall comply with all other requirements of the ordinance.

The applicant is requesting one variance:

The existing primary residence has an approximate fifty two (52) feet, two & one half (2.5) inch rear yard setback, at the location of the proposed addition. With the proposed twenty two (22) feet, four (4) inch deep x thirty nine (39) feet, zero (0) inch long addition, the proposed rear yard setback would be forty (40) feet, zero (0) inches, requesting a variance of ten (10) feet, zero (0) inches.

Mark Shubow of Accent Remodeling represented Mr. and Mrs. Harris. He thought his revised plans would comply because they showed a 40 foot minimum rear yard setback request, which is typically allowed as a variance. He was told however that the width of the addition was not in compliance according to the required maximum lot coverage.

Mr. Bridgman moved to table Application #1290 for up to 60 days. Supported by Mr. Levengood. Ayes all.

ITEM NO. 3– APPROVAL OF SCHEDULE

Mr. Griffith moved to approve the ZBA meeting schedule for 2002. Supported by Mr. Bridgman. Ayes all.

MOTION TO ADJOURN

It was moved by Mr. Griffith and seconded by Mr. Bridgman to adjourn the meeting at 5:50 p.m. Ayes all.

NOTE: Upon granting a zoning variance, a building permit is required.

If denied, the applicant may appeal to Circuit Court.

The Charter Township of Plymouth will provide necessary reasonable aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting/hearing upon two weeks notice to the Charter Township of Plymouth. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Charter Township of Plymouth by writing or calling the Supervisor’s Office, Charter Township of Plymouth, 42350 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, Michigan, 48170, (734) 453-3840, TDD users: 1-800-649-3777 (Michigan Relay Service)-